Hardening apparatus for railway and tramway rails



june 3 1924.

Fica. 1.

C. A. EWING HARDENING APPARATUS vFOP( RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY RAILS june 3, 1924i. y 1,496,532

C. A. EWING HARDEN'ING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY RAILS Filed March 22. 1921 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 june 3 1924- c. A; EWING HARDENING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY RAILS Filed March 22. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented lune 3, i924.,

unita stares hail 532 CHARLES A. EWNG, OIF STEVELTON, PENNSYLVANI.

Application filed March 22, 1.921. n

T0 @Z7 iran/112. may con/cern;

Be it known that l, Gunnar-s ifi. Ewino, a citizen ot the United States of America, residing at Qteelton, in the county or' llauphin and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rlardening Apparatus for Railway and Tramway Rails, of which the following is a specification. f'

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hardening apparatus for railway and tramway rails, and for carbon steel in general and has particular reference to the hardening of steel to produce a hard and tough or sorbitic structure of varying toughness throughout the steel.

In the usual hardening treatment of railway and tramway rails, wherein the rails are hardened by being subjected to a blast or flow of elastic fluid such as air for producing a hard and tough or sorbitic structure in the head or ball of the rail, the rails are delivered from the rolling machines to a hot bed and thereafter manually shifted adjacent to an air supply device with the head ot the rail positioned in proximity ot the air supply. With this process, the head, web and base flanges ot the rail are entirely eX- posed with the result that the air supply not only contacts the head or ball of the rail but flows in contact with the rail webs and base flanges, the entire rail structure, with this process, being in effect subjected to the llow of hardening medium whereby the rails are improperly hardened i. e., the base flange ot "the rail being hardened in excess of the ball or tread.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of an apparatus operatively associated with thehot bed of a steel rail rolling mill to which hot bed the rails are successively delivered while heated to a temperature above the critical temperature with the present apparatus successively receiving the heated rails delivered 'to the hot bed and being automatic in its operation for continuously hardening the rails until their point oitl discharge from the apparatus.

A further object of the invention has reference to a machine associated withthe hot hed of a steel rail rolling mill with cooper- 4 ating devices forming elements of said appa- .e ratus and hot bed for successively moving paratus for purposes of hardening the same.

the rails delivered to the-hot bed to the ap- Serial No. %,52-.

i still further object of the invention embodies a novel 'torni ofnpparatus for successively receiving rails delivered to the hot bed of a rolling mill and moving the rails to a position on said apparatus whereby the heads or balls alone of the rails are subjected to the hardening medium during their association with said apparatus.

The invention further contemplates improvements in the manner of positioning the rails to be hardened'on'the supporting medium, said medium preferably consisting of a rotatable drum and having adjustable ianged plates or bars engaging the sides of the rail heads or balls to prevent the escape oi? the hardening medium such as air for Contact with the rail webs and base ianges and confining the same for contact with the head or balls alone of the rails.

The invention further contemplates, as an advance in the art, novel types of rail engaging clamps associated with the hardening apparatus herein disclosed, whereby rails of various sizes are capable of treatment in a machine or apparatus of standard construction.

The invention further embodies in an apparatus of the type hereinafter described a plurality of clamping levers for holding the rails in fixed position on the apparatus during the h ardening process with a novel. form of'cam operating device for said clamping levers, said cam device being adjustable relative to said apparatus whereby the points of reception and discharge `of the rails on the apparatus may be changed, to accommodate the apparatus for association with hot beds and discharge chutes of different heights.

The invention further provides for a novel type ot rail head supporting members carried by the tempering apparatus, said supporting members being pivotally mounted on the apparatus and moved to an open position when freeing a rail. and adapted to be moved to a closed position to confine the head of the rail when a rail is positionedv therein by the rail supporting clamp.

TWith the above general objects .in view and others that will become app/arent as the nature of the linvention'is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings andclaimed.

ln the drawings, wherein like Arefersnce ilo characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional vien7 ot a rail tempering machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, there being illustrated a rotatable drum for supporting the rails and an air supply. pipe Within the drum.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the tempering apparatus showing thevalves tor controlling the supply ot" hardening medium tothe rail heads and the automatically operating feed devices tor successively delivering the rails from the hot bed to the hardening apparatus,

Figure 2a is a cross sectional View taken on line II"-Ha ott Fig. l showing the positive cam for' operating the rail supporting clamps,

- Figure 3 is av detail sectional view of amoditied form of the invention showing the rack bar operated rail head engaging plates tor directing the hardening medium onto the rail heads and the laterally adjustable rail .engaging clamp,

Figure el' is a detail sectional view of another form. of the invention showing the pivotally mounted rail head engaging members and the rail clamp attachments tor steadying the base flanges of the rails,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional vienv taken on line V-V ot Fig. l showing the adjustable positively operating cam for shitting the rail engaging clamps, f

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line VI-VI ot Fig. 3 showing the side opening vents 'tor' the rail receiving pockets` the operating shaft tor the rail engaging clamps and the pinion and supporting shaft for laterally shifting the rail head engaging plate` and Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view ot a modilied Vtorm of the invention showing the rail heads supported upon transverse partitions in the rail head receiving pockets of the drum.

This invention is continuons in operation, i. e.v` the rails being delivered trom the rolling mills are received on a hot bed and While the heat of the rails is above the critical temperature, lthe rails are successively ted along the hot bed to a. rotating drum that successively receives the rails and hai-dens the .heads of the rails while supported thereon andpdelivers the rails tor discharge trom the drum to a receiving trough or platform. The rotating drum is adapted to be driven at various speeds to etlect the proper tempering ot the rails as tor instance, rails of 50 carbon steel will require a longer period ot time for hardening than rails of carbon steel. The rotating drum supporting the rails is operated in any suitable manner and the rotating drum cooperates with the feeding means of the hot bed in timed relation tor receiving the rails as the same are ted along the hot bed. The drum supporting the rails is provided With an axial supply pipe tor the hardening medium having lateral ports therein for delivering the hardening medium to the interior of the drum, and the periphery ot the drum is provided with longitudinal pockets into which the rail heads to be hardened are received, clamp levers being carried by the periphery ot the drum and operated by a cam device for holding the rails in the pockets and permitting thev discharge of the rails from the drum, a plurality of valves having relatively long stems controlling the passage ot the hardening medium from the interior et the drum to the pockets, the valve stems extending a material distance into pockets to be engaged by the heads ot' the rails When clamped home to open the valves and permit the 'l'low ot hardening medium in the drum through the valve. openings for Contact with the rail heads, devices being associated With the rail to confine the How ot hardening medium onto the rail heads and to prevent the hardcning medium. from contacting the rail Webs and base tlanges, said valves being automatically closed when the cam operated clamping levers move to a position to discharge the rails trom the drum. The rails in be- 'ing delivered from the rolling mills are sawed into the desired lengths, and passed through cambering rollers to slightly distort or camber the same, with the head ot the rail lying in the inner arc and to accommodate the cambered rails to the drum so that the heads thereof at the inner arc of the camber Will be Wholly received Within the pockets of the drum. said drum is preferably 'formed of a substantially ovalshape with the greatest bilge intermediate the ends thereof.

This application is a continuation in part so far as illustratedr` described and claimed in my application tor method of and apparatus :tor treating steels tiled December 23, 1920, Serial No. 432,759 and embodies improved devices 'tor carrying into operation the method as expressed in my prior application and `further set torth herein.

The invention as disclosed in the accom panying drawings shows preferred forms of apparatus and it not intended that the invention be so limited` there being illustrated end standards l and 2 connected by a base plate 3 for supporting a rotary drum. The drum embodies end Walls 4 and 5 connected by an oval Wall 6, the drum being rotatably supported in the end standards l and 2.

The rotatable support for the drum includes a stub shaft 7 journalcd in the standard 2 and forming an integral part of the end Wall 5 of the drum, a cup bearing 8 ex" llO illustrated in Fig. 1.

tending inwardly of the `end wall 5 for purposes presently to appear. A supply pipe .9 for the hardening medium has one end therefixed to the upper end of the standard 1 by the strap bearing 10, the pipe 9 extending axially of the drum 6 with the inner end thereof journaled in the cup hearing 8 as An annular bearing flange 11 is formed axially of the end wall 4 of the drum and is rotatably supported Von the pipe 9, the flange 11 having anti-friction bearing balls 12 positioned between said flange and the pipe 9 while a packing 13 engaged by the gland 14 seals the interior of the drum 6 to the atmosphere. Lateral ports 15 are provided in the pipe 9 to permit the flow of hardening medium from the pipe to the exterior of the drum. To effect rotation of the drum in the bearings 1 and 2, the drive shaft 16 journaled in the standard "2 'carries a pinion 17 meshing with'the gear 18 fixed to the stub shaft 7, the gear 18 being in mesh with the gear 19 carried by the shaft 20 inthe standard'2for rotating said gear `19 'for purposes presently to appear.

To accommodate the mounting of rails on the periphery of the drum 6, said drum is provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending pockets 21 having transversepartitions 22 provided with ports 22 with longitudinally spaced valve seats 23 formed in the inner wall of the pockets 21 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A plurality of annular bands 24 are supported within the drum 6 in spaced relation by the brackets 25fixed to the inner wall of the drum with a band alined with 'the valve seats 23 in circular series,` while a valve 26 has an inwardly extending stem 27 slidable through the band 24 and an outwardly extending elongated stem 28 extending through the pocket partition 22, springs 29 surrounding the valve stems 27 between the valve 26 and band 24 normally to hold the valves 26 in closed position on their seats 23. It'will therefore be seen that hardening medium of elastic fluid such as air entering thel open end of the pipe 9 is confined within the drum 6 by the valves described. In the formiof the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 resiliently mounted plates 30 are supported at the outer ends of the side walls of the pockets 21 and have right-angularly extending inwardly directedflanges31 projecting into the open pockets 21 with the Vflanges 31 in each pocket being normally spaced as illustrated. The plates 30 are provided' with transverse slotted openings through which Aretaining pins v32* project to permit limited sliding niovementsrof the plates'cn the'peripherv'of"the"'dru1n '6, stems `Y33 jbeing carried bythe outer faces `of thefplate flanges :31 and slidably extending through the lside walls of the pocket V openings as shown 'in Fig.' .2" and 'surrounded by coil springs 34 normally tending to move the plate flanges toward each other for the resilient gripping of the opposite sides of a rail head.

A plurality of rail engaging clamps is associated with each pocket 21, each clamp including a lever pivotally mounted upon the bracket 36 with the levers and brackets of each pocket longitudinally alined while the outer end of the clamping lever 35 is fashioned as at 37 for engaging the base flange and web of a rail for delivering the same to a pocket for hardening treatment.

The operating means for the clamping levers 35 embodies provision of peripherally spaced longitudinally extending channels 38 formed in the drum, one associated with each pocket 21 and having ournaled therein a longitudinal rod 39 with a disk 40 fixed to each rod in radial alinement with a clamp lever 35, a link rod 41 being eccentrical'ly connected as at 42 to the disk 4() and extending through a perforation in the clamp arm 35 with a head 41 formed upon the outer end thereof while a coil spring 43 surrounds the link rod between the rod head 41 andthe outer face of the clamp lever, the spring normally forcing the clamp lever inwardly of the link rod 41 to be engaged by the stop pin 44 on the link rod inwardly of the clamping lever, this construction beingclearly shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the rods 39 project beyond the end wall 4 o-f the drum as at 39 and carry lateral arms 45 connected at their outer ends to rods 46 that carry cam rollers 47. A cam of the positive operating type, and as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 is secured to the end standard 1, the cam being U-shaped in cross section embodying an outer wall 48 and an inner wall 49 with the cam rollers 47 traveling between the inner and outer walls and adapted for shifting movement to partially rotate the rods 39 'by contact with the cam surfaces 48 and 49 of the cam walls. As shown in Fig. 5 the cam is secured to the end standard 1 by bolts 50 extending through concentric slots 51 formed in the inner wall of the cam so that the cam may be shifted to change the position of the cam surfaces 48 and 49 relative to the vertical axis'of the standards for changing the position Vof the opening and closing movements of the clamping levers during rotation thereof as will be plainly obvious. This feature of the invention is clearly disclosed in Figs. 2ad and 5, the cani being shifted from one position to another to change the relative rotative positions of the clamp levers for their opening and closing movements. During rotation of the druin 6 on the stub shaft 7 and the fiuid supplyv pipe 9 the shafts 39 carried by the drum present the cam' rollers 47 for operation by the cam surfaces 48and 49 of the cam, the cam shifting the lateral arms '45 to 'partially rotate the shafts 39 and the disks et() carried thereby to move the link Y rods ll inwardly and outwardly of the channels 38 with a like movement of the clamp leve-rs 35, moving the rail clamping ends 3'?" of the levers toward and away from the pockets 2l and resiliently maintaining the clamp levers in closed position by the cushion spring t3 uponthe link rods l-l, the clamp levers being moved to their Open position by gravitation and also influenced by pins t4 upon the link rods and cam and link rod connections shown in Fig. 2a. rThe machine being continuous in operation, the rails A delivered from the rolling mill are received on the hot bed 52 formed of spaced bars in the usual manner with the outer ends of the bars of the hot bed 52 terminating adjacent the drinn 6, the clamp levers carried by the drum passing upwardly through the spaces between the bars of the hot bed in a manner as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 2. The rails A are moved over the hot bed 52 and positioned for engagement by the clamp levers 35 by mechanism shown in Fig. 2, the saine including a rack bar 53 slidably associated with the hot bed and carrying weighted bell cranks 54 for engaging the rails to shift the same along the hot bed as illustrated. Stop lugs 54! are carried bythe rack bar to limit the swingingmovement in one direction of the bell cranks and are counterbalanced to permit the ends of the bell cranks projecting above the hot bed to escape the rails when the rack bar is retracted. To operate the rack bar a segment rack is pivotally mounted on a standard 56 and has the frame i 57 thereof pivotally connected to one end of a pitman rod 58, the other end of which is `eccentrically connected as at 59 to the gear 19. the pitman rod 58 being provided with' t-he bell cranks 54- engaging the rails to move the same forward in a step by step movement and retracting for engagement with other rails. The rails A are delivered to the forward `end of the hot bed and as the clamp levers 35 move upwardly between the bars of the hot bed the ends 37 of the clam levers en awe the base flanges and webs of the rails as shown in Fig. 2 to remove the same from the hot bed. Upon rotation of the drum 6 ,the cam operates the rods 39 and through the medium of the disks and link rods tl the levers 35 are moved to position the heads ef the rails between the flanges 3l of the tensioned plates 30, the heads of the rails forcing the plates 30 apart while the springs 34C maintain closest contact of the plate flanges with the heads of the rails, and substantially seal the outer sides of the pockets 2l. During this movement the rail head engages the outer stems 28 of the valves 26 to Yunseat the valves against the tension of the springs 29, thereby permitting the hardening fluid within the drum passing through the valve openings 23 and ports 22 in the pocket partitions 22 for contact with the heads of the rails. The hardening medium confined within the pockets 2l escapes therefrom through lateral vents 60 shown 'in Figs. 2, '3 and 6 while the base flanges and webs of the rails are protected from contact with the hardening medium. rllhe rotation of the drum 6 is timed to per- ;nit the complete hardening of the rail heads and a natural tempering of the rail webs and base flanges while the rails are supported on the drum. Continued movement of the drum 6 will cause an operation of thc shafts 39 by the cam 48 and 'mecha-f nisn associating the cam and shaft 39 to permit rotation of the disks 40 and outward movement of the clamp levers 35 by the pins et on the link rods 4l and further influenced by the weight of the rails, the rails being discharged onto the chute 6l with the temperature thereof below the critical temperature so that any heat remaining in the rails will not be suflicient to again raise the temperature of the rails above the critical temperature and affect the completed hardening process. By the provision of the tensioned plates 30 having the flanges 3l thereof engaging the sides of the rail heads the outer ends of the pockets 21 are subst-antially sealed at all times so that expansion or contraction of the rail heads will not displace the tensioned plates from engagement therewith. To compensate for hot beds of different heights the cam may be rotatably adjusted to vary the points of opening and closing movements of the clamp levers relative to the hot bed, the cam being rotatable through the pin and slot connection 50 and 5l with its support. When the rails are discharged from the drum the valves 26 are moved to their seats 23 by the springs 29,

thus sealing the adjacent pocket 2l from communication with the interior of the drum, the valves being automatic in their operation.

' In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the valve structure is identical with the invention as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2,

the plates 30 carrying inwardly directed 1 spaced flanges 3l for engagement with the rail head as illustrated, the plates 30 having pin and slot connections with the opposite walls of the pocket 2l. ln lieu of the tensened nina fraek 33 are by. theflanges 31 and extend through openings in the side walls ofthe pockets for engagement with pinions 62 mounted on longitudinal rods 62 as shown in Fig. 6 that are suitably operated to move therack bars and anges carrying the same inwardly for frictional contact with the sides of the rail heads. Also, if desired, one of the plate members SOAmay be rimarily lixedly adjustedto one wall of t 1e pocket and the cooperating plate adjusted b-y the rack and pinion for engagement with the rail head. In this form of the invention the angle of the clamp lever 35 is changed with respect tothe lever 35 shown in Fig. 2 kwith the free end thereof connected to a shiftable rack block 63 operated by a pinion 64 to shift the clamping lever relative tothe pocket 21, thus to accommodate a standard construction of clamping arm to rails of different sizes, the opening and closing' mechanism for the clamping arm 35', being identical with the operating mechanism for the clamping arms 35 as shown in Fig. 2.. j j

Another form of the invention is shown in Fig. 4 wherein tubular clamping jaws 65 are pivotally supported on opposite walls of the pocket 21 with the opposite sides of the head ofthe rail positioned between the jaws, and when the jaws are in the position shown in "4F ig. -4 the inner jaw faces are slightly spaced from the top of the rail head to permit the How of hardening mediumv in the pocket onto the rail head and into the tubularj jaws to escape therefrom through the ventppening-s- 66. In this form of the invention the clamp lever 35 is pivoted to the lug 36 toene side ofthe channel 38 while the `rail engaging end 37 of the clamplever isprovided with adjustable slides Y67 for engaging the opposite sides of the base flanges of the rail to more securely anchor the,l same in position. When the drum 6 is rotated kand being provided with the tubular clamping jaws 65 shown in Fig.. 4 the jaws are moved outwardly on their hinge connec-V tions with theopposite walls of the pockets by the railfheads engaging the outer faces of. the .jaws and will remain iso positioned until the clamp 35 receives a rail to be tempered and moves the same inwardly for engagement with the inner face of the jaws which will fall by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 4 when the clamp levers are moved home.

A still further form of the invention is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the pockets for receiving lthe heads of the rails are formed of `spaced longitudinal ribs 46 with transverse webs 47 supporting the head of the rail, perforations being provided in the bottoni walls of the pocket to permit the flow 0f yhardeningmedium in contact with the rail heads when the valves are unseate'd in a manner hereinbefore described, the remaining elements of this form of the invention being of like construction and 0perating in asimilar manner.

The present apparatus for hardening rails provides for the continuous movement of the rail when delivered on the hot bed from the rolling` machine and during the hardening process, the rails successively delivered to the hot .bed being successively received on the rotating drum and hardened during the partial rotation of the drum, the rails remaining on the drum during the hardening: process until the temperature thereof fallsbelow the critical temperature so that theheat remaining in the rails will not be sutiicient for redistribution through the ,railv structure to raise the temperature to a point above the critical temperature, and while there are herein shownfand described the preferred forms of the. invention, it is to be understood that various changes in details of construction `are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed. It is further intended not to limit ythis application to the character of, hardening medium employed, or themanner of supplying thesame to the drum, as water or oil may be used withequal etliciency, and delivered to the drum in any manner desired lVhat. is claimed as new is :m

1. Apparatus for hardening steel rails includ'ingrail supporting means supplied with a hardening medium, means for delivering rails to the Isupporting means, and means for automatically releasing the rails from,

hardening the supporting means after thereof. l i l.

'2.` Apparatus for hardening carbon steel,

comprising in combination, means for successively feeding carbon steel articles toa point of supply, and meansfor 'successively transferring said steelarticles to a point of discharge,fsaid transferring means operating to cooltthe steel articlesimoderately rapidly by meansof an elastic fluid contained therein, and tensioned'members gripping the steel articles during the hardening operation.

Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including rail supporting means supplied with a hardening medium, and automatically operating means carried exteriorly of the rail supporting means cooperating with the rails tobehardened for directing the `hardening medium within lthe supporting means onto the rail heads and protecting the rail webs and flanges. i

4. Apparatus for hardening steelv rails, including rail supporting means supplied with a vhardening' medium, and adjustable means positionedy exteriorly of the rail supporting` means cooperating with the rails tobe hardened for directing the .hardening lmedium Within the supporting means onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

5. Apparatus for hardening steel rails. including rail supporting means supplied With a hardening medium, and shiftable means positioned outwardly ofthe rail supporting means cooperating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium Within the supporting means onto the rail heads and protecting the rail webs and flanges.

6. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including rail supporting means supplied with a hardening medium, and resiliently mounted means carried by the rail supporting means cooperating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

7. Apparatus forhardening steel rails, in-

- cluding rail supporting means supplied with Webs and flanges.

9. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including rail supporting means supplied With a hardening medium, and vlaterally movable resiliently mounted means carried by the rail supporting means cooperating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

10. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied With a hardening medium, and means carried by the drum cooperating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium Within -the supporting drum onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

ll. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, and adjustable means carried bythe drum cooperating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium Within the supporting drum onto the rail heads and protecting the rail webs and flanges.

l2. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied With a hardening medium, and

shiftable means carried by the drum coop` erating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium Within the supporting drum onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

13. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, and resiliently mounted means carried by the drum cooperating With the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

lll. Apparatus Yfor hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, and laterally adjustable means carried by the drum cooperating with the rails to be hardened l for directing the hardening medium Within the supporting drum onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

l5. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a` hardening medium, and laterally shiftable means carried by the drum cooperating with the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium Within the supporting drum onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

16. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied With a hardening medium, and laterally movable resiliently mounted means carried by the drum cooperating With the rails to be hardened for directing the hardening medium onto the rail heads and protecting the rail Webs and flanges.

17. Apparatus for hardening steel rails,

including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, peripherally spaced longitudinally extending pockets formed in said drum, tensioned valves for controlling the flow of hardening medium from the drum to the pockets, rail engaging clamps carried by the drum for supporting a rail With the rail head extending into the adjacent pocket, and means arranged at opposite sides of the pockets engaging the rail head to close the outer ends of the pockets.

18. Apparatus for hardening steel rails7 including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied With a hardening medium, peripherallyT spaced longitudinally extending pockets formed in said drum, tensioned Valves for controlling the flou7 of hardening medium from the drum to the pockets, rail engaging clamps carried by the drum for supporting a rail with the rail head extending into the adjacent pocket, and means arranged at opposite sides of the pockets engaging the rail head, to close the. outer ends of the pockets adjacent the rail heads, the

19. Apparatus for hardening steel rails including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, peripherally spaced longitudinally extending pockets formed in said drum, tensioned valves for controlling the flow of hardening medium from the drum to the pockets, rail en Agaging clamps carried by the drum for supporting a rail with the rail head extending into the adjacent pocket, and tensioned flanged plates arranged at opposite sides of the pockets engaging the rail heads to close the outer ends of the pockets adjacent the rail heads.

20. Apparatus for hardening steel rails including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium. peripherally spaced longitudinally extending pockets formed in said drum, tensioned valves for controlling the flow of hardening medium from the drum to the pockets, rail engaging clamps carried by the drum for supporting a rail with the rail head extending Finto the adjacent pocket, and tensioned 4flange plates arranged at opposite sides of the pockets, the side walls of the pockets having lateral vent openings therein.

21. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, peripherally spaced longitudinally extending pockets formed in said drum, tensioned valves for controlling the flow of hardening medium from the drum to the pockets, rail engaging clamps carried by the drum for supporting a rail with the rail head extending into the adjacent pocket, and laterally shiftable flanged plates arranged at opposite sides of the pockets engaging the rail heads to close the outer ends of the pockets adjacent the rail heads.

22. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable rail supporting drum supplied with a hardening medium, rail receiving pockets formed in the periphery of the drum, rail engaging clamps for supporting rails in the pockets, rotatable shafts extending longitudinally of the drum, operative connections between the clamps and said shafts, and a rotarily adjustable cam associated with said shaft to vary the point of operation of the clamps relative to the rotative positions of the drum.

28. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable drum supplied with a hardening medium, rail receiving pockets formed in the periphery of said drum, rail engaging clamps carried by the drum for positioning rail heads in the pockets, and pivotally mounted tubular clamping jaws for the rail heads arranged in said pockets for closing the outer ends of the pockets adjacent the rail heads and to protect the rail webs and flanges from the hardening me` dium.

24. Apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable drum supplied with a hardening medium, rail receiving pockets formed in the periphery of said drum, rail engaging clamps carried by the drum for positioning rail heads in the pockets, and pivotally mounted tubular clamping jaws for the rail heads arranged in said pockets for closing the outer ends of the pockets adjacent the rail heads and to protect the rail webs and flanges from the hardening medium, said tubular aws having the inner jaw faces spaced from the rail heads when the rails are being hardened and having vent openings in the outer sides thereof directing the escape of the hardening medium later-- ally of the rail webs and flanges.

in combination with the hot bed of a steel rail rolling mill, apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable drinn supplied with a hardening medium, and means carried by the drum moving in proximity of said hot bed for transferring rails from the hot bed to the drum to be hardened.

26. In combination with the hot bed of a steel rail rolling mill, apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable drum supplied with a hardening medium, means carried by the drum moving in proximity of said hot bed for transferring rails from the hot bed to the drum to be hardened, and means associated with the hot bed for moving rails thereover for reception on said drum.

2T. in combination with the hot bed of a steel rail rolling mill, apparatus for hardenino steel rails, including a rotatable drum supplied with a hardening medium, means carried by the drum moving in proximity of said hot bed for transferring rails fromr the hot bed` to the drum to be hardened, means associated with the hot bed for moving rails thereon for reception on said drum, and operative connections between the rail moving means and rotatable drum.

28. in combination with 'the hot bed of a steel rail rolling mill, apparatus for hardening steel rails, including a rotatable drum supplied with a hardening Vmedium, means carried by the drum moving in proximity of said hot bed for transferring rails from the hot bed to the drum to be hardened, a rack bar carrying pivoted dogs slidably associated with the hot bed. a segment rack in mesh with said rack bar, and operative connections between the segment rack and rotatable drum.

29. Apparatus for hardening the heads of steel track rails after rolling, comprising in combination, continuously movable means supplied with a hardening medium for hardening the rail heads, means for successively feeding the track rails in a step by ystep movement to the irst named means,

said iirst named means successively transferring the track rails to a point of discharge and operating to cool the heads ot' the track rails by directing the hardening medium contained therein only against the heads ot the rails.

30. rThe method of rhardening steel rails after rolling' consisting in 'feeding the rails to a point ot' supply with a step by step movement, continuously moving` and hardening said rails at the point ot supply and then successively' delivering' the rails to a point of discharge.

3l. The method of hardening` steel rails after rolling consisting in successively moving the rails to a hardening device, then con tinuously moving and hardening the rails on said device and nally successively discharging the rails therefrom.

32. The method of hardening steel rails after rolling, consisting in moving the rails in a step by step movement to a hardening device, hardening said rails and simultaneously moving the same to a point ot' discharge, and iinally discharging the rails from the hardening device.

In testimony Whereotl affix my signature in presence ot' tivo Witnesses.

CHARLES A. ENNG.

Witnesses VILLIAM F. HoUsMAN, LAWRENCE A. NEssEL. 

